Coalition Tallies the Homeless in the Southern Tier

A regional organization is taking count of the number of people in the area who lack secure housing as cold weather continues to grip the area.

The Southern Tier Homeless Coalition has been conducting its annual assessment of the homeless and people living in shelters across Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego Counties.

The data now moves on for national evaluation to be used for determining any possible government funding of programs.

Last year, some 308 people were found in shelter insecurity in the Point-in-Time count. Organizers predicted the numbers would be greater this year.

While hundreds of people are finding it hard, if not impossible, to find housing, ironically, there is an abundance of apartments open in the region. Many of those units, however, are designated for student housing or high-end, luxury apartments.